“The Knowledge Farm and Apple Agrotourism” in Qatrom, Korçë, is another of the largest investments in the region, built according to EU standards on an area of 37 hectares. It is linked to the other project of the Knowledge Hub and the University’s scientific research, thus serving as a multifunctional space for agriculture, education, tourism and the local economy.
Prime Minister Rama, who is in the Korçë area today, visited the farm and was closely introduced to the contemporary technologies being applied there.
The Director of the Albanian Development Fund, Dritan Agolli, presented the concept of the “Knowledge Farm”, which is not only a production base, but also a centre for scientific research, education and innovation, directly connected with the Knowledge Hub project in Korçë and with the University.
“We call it the Knowledge Farm because this is part of the broader concept linked to the Knowledge Hub. There is the farm, and there will also be the creative hub, which we will see later. These are, so to speak, production bases, but production bases in real practice that will serve the scientific research part and are linked to the university, to the whole concept of the Knowledge Hub that we are developing in Korçë. Practically, the planting works have been completed here, the netting system, everything is equipped with drip irrigation systems, with monitored systems, and the other part will be the construction of the warehouse for the processing lines, as well as the educational spaces, laboratory spaces and the research part,” Agolli explained.
The farm has been built on the principles of smart farming and includes advanced technological systems for the monitoring and intelligent management of agricultural production. The entire area is equipped with modern drip irrigation systems, anti hail nets and real time monitoring mechanisms, which minimise the effects of climate change and increase production efficiency.
In the second phase of the project, meteorological stations, smart soil sensors and systems integrated with artificial intelligence will be implemented, enabling real time analysis of soil and climate parameters and guiding farmers towards more efficient decision making for cultivation and crop protection.
The farmers involved in the project emphasised that the varieties selected for cultivation are those most in demand in European Union markets, while some of the cultivars are disease resistant, creating opportunities for organic and sustainable production.
“The varieties are mainly those cultivated in the European Union, which are more in demand in the market. At the same time, we have also planted several cultivars that are not affected by diseases, in order to produce organically,” said one of the farmers.
Another innovative element of the farm is the integration of scientific research with real production practice. The project foresees the establishment of laboratories, research spaces and educational facilities, where students and experts will have the opportunity to conduct studies and experiments under real production conditions.
In addition to its agricultural and scientific dimension, the “Knowledge Farm” will also serve as an agrotourism destination, with hospitality and visitor spaces for tourists, creating a new model of local economic development where agriculture, technology and tourism are interwoven in the service of sustainable development.
As part of the project, a warehouse of around 2,400 m² is also being built for the processing and classification of production, as well as for the development of value added products, aiming to create a complete production and processing chain.
Project representatives emphasised that this model also aims to encourage cooperation among farmers through the creation of agricultural cooperation societies, where the state will have an active role as a partner and guarantor for the development of the sector.
“The Knowledge Farm and Apple Agrotourism” represents a concrete example of the transformation of Albanian agriculture through technology, innovation and knowledge, creating a new development model that brings Albania closer to the most advanced European standards of agricultural production.
